Adjustable sprayer iron

ABSTRACT

The disclosure shows a steam and spray iron having an adjustable sprayer assembly with means to vary the spray flow rate through the sprayer by varying the steam flow on each manual operation of the sprayer.

United States Patent Davidson [45] Aug. 22, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE SPRAYERIRON 2,716,297 8/1955 l-loecker ..38/77.5 inventor: E. Davidson,Ontario, SwenSOn et al. ..38/77-5 [73] Assignee: General ElectricCompany Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-Lawrence R. Kempton,Leonard J. Platt [22] Filed. Oct. 27, 1970 and John F. Cullen [21] Appl.No.: 84,411

. ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..38/77.5 The disclosure shows a steam and sprayiron having an [51] Int. Cl. ..D06f 75/06 adjustable sprayer assemblywith means to vary the [58] Field of Search ..38/77.5, 77.81 spray flowrate through the sprayer by varying the steam flow on each manualoperation of the sprayer. [56] References Cited 6 Claim, 5 DrawingFigures UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoecker ..3s/77.5

ADJUSTABLE SPRAYER IRON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to a spray iron and more particularlyto a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron whereby an adjustmentmeans varies the steam flow through the sprayer and consequently changesthe spray flow rate when the manually operated sprayer control means isactuated.

2. Description of the Prior Art I With the advent of irons usingdistilled or tap water for either steam or spray purposes or both, aliquid reservoir in the form of a water tank is generally provided inthe iron above the soleplate and a water valve structures providescontrolled water drippage into a steam generator where the water isevaporated and directed out steam holes in the soleplate to steam thearticle. Spray attachments have been added to such irons to supply afine spray from the water tank to spray onto the garment. Such sprayattachments may be manual, where each actuation of a suitable buttonpumps a spurt of water, or the spray may be steam powered where, bysuitable valving, the steam pressure is raised and directed to the spraywhere it aspirates, lifts, or pressurizes the water so that a singledepression of the button provides a continuous spray until the button isreleased. A typical powered spray iron of this type is shown in US. Pat.No. 3,041,757 of common assignment. In steam irons which have the sprayfeature, the irons have proven to be extremely useful in the ironing ofunsprinkled clothes and the occasional redampening of troublesome spotsduring ironing. The

amount of moisture in the spray or the spray rate of such irons,however, is generally a compromise between a dry or light spray suitablefor light fabrics, such as synthetics, to a medium spray suitable forwoolens or medium weight cottons, to the heavier wet spray desirable forheavy cottons and linens. Operators differ widely as to what is theproper spray rate for the different materials. For example, a singlerate spray iron tends to provide too much liquid on the fabric whensynthetics and permanent press fabrics are ironed and it providesinsufficient moisture for heavy cottons and linens. Inasmuch as thefabrics being ironed require different amounts of spray and theoperators, even on the same materials, differ as to the proper amount ofspray, the usual single rate iron is a compromise to meet these variableconditions.

Generally, prior art construction has not provided a design with anadjustable sprayer assembly to vary the spray rate and thus meet a widerange of requirements of fabrics and operators. Assignees copendingapplication Ser. No. 824,591, filed May 14, 1969, now US. pat. No.3,605,299 of Sept. 20, 197i, discloses such as iron where the spray ratemay be varied and this is accomplished by selecting the liquid flow ratethrough the sprayer. The instant application is a different structuralmeans for providing an adjustable rate power spray to vary the sprayflow rate by changing the stem quantity or flow through the sprayerassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention isdirected to a steam and adjustable or variable rate power spray ironthat has a water reservoir and steam generator connected to receivewater from the reservoir and direct steam through the soleplate to theironing surface and which also uses a sprayer assembly with a sprayerhead connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single sprayoutlet to the ironing surface under the operation of a manual controlmeans in the form of a button on the handle. The sprayer assembly isimproved upon by providing a steam tube which has a spray dischargeoutlet and a water tube that is disposed in the steam tube with anopening adjacent the spray outlet. A tubular spray mixer member isdisposed in the water tube and steam tube and it has a transversepassage through it connecting the interior of the steam tube with theoutlet. A pin having different thicknesses such as a stepped crosssection is disposed in the mixer extending across the passage andslideable lengthwise of the mixer with the water tube, mixer, and pinall longitudinally contained within the steam tube. The stepped crosssection of the pin is progressively decreasing so that different crosssections are moved across the passage. The spray operation is controlledby a cap assembly that is slideably mounted over the tubes to open andclose the outlet and is operated by the button through a lever means toslide the cap assembly up and down and open and close the outletrespectively. The control means may rotate to act as an adjustment forthe lever meansand move the pin to bring different cross sections intothe passage and thus variably control the steam flow through thepassage. A spring means is provided to bias the pin towards its smallestcross section and the pin has a flat head abutting the cap to limit pinmovement. The opening in the water tube may be made in the form of anorifice and the pin can extend into the orifice to act as a clean-outmeans on each actuation of the sprayer. Consequently, as different crosssections are brought opposite the transverse passage, the steam flowthrough the passage is variably controlled or changed so that the sprayrate varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with thesteam flow. Thus, the main object of the invention is applicable to asteam powered spray iron and is directed to providing an improvedsprayer assembly with means to vary the steam flow through the sprayerhead as selected when the sprayer control means is actuated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partiallyin section, showing the location of the invention in a flatiron;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section through the sprayer head showing thesprayer in the 011 position and using a multiple stepped-pinconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a Semi-diagramatic showing of the spray assembly in the onposition of a heavy spray with the sprayer enlarged for clarity andusing a two-stepped P FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3 showingthe-spray assembly in the on" position of a light spray setting withhigher steam flow; and

FIG. 5 is a partial view internally of the sprayer showing the use of atapered pin.

Referring to FIG. 1, an iron embodying this invention typically includesa soleplate 10, connected cover 12, and operating handle 14. Inaccordance with conventional practice, soleplate 10 may be cast fromaluminum with an electrical heating element cast into position. Theheating element preferably is of the sheathed type in which anelectrical resistance element 16 extends through an outer tubularprotective sheath with the heating element separated from the outersheath by an electrical insulating compound resistance to heat such as amass of granulated and compressed magnesium oxide. The temperature ofthe soleplate is set by temperature control knob 17 connected to operatea thermostat all as well-known in the. art. In the usual manner, theheating element extends in a loop from the rear of the iron along oneside to the forward or pointed end and then rearwardly along the otherside. Thus, a substantially uniform heat distribution is provided,especially when an aluminum soleplate plain or coated is employed.

Since spray irons are generally found in combination with steam irons,it is in this. context that the invention is described. The ironincludes means for generating vapor under pressure and typically, thismay be used to convert liquid such as water into steam and the inventionis so described although the term is intended to cover any other liquidalso such as aqueous starch solutions. For steam generation, soleplateis provided with a steam generator in the form of cavity 18. A liquidreservoir in the form of water tank 20 supplies water to orifice 22 inwater valve 24. The water is controlled by valve stem 26 that isactuated by stepped but-- ton 28 by suitable known linkage mechanismwhereby water drips onto the hot soleplate and is converted into steam.The steam so generated is confined and directed over the heated uppersurface of the soleplate by coverplate 30 and thence out steam outlets32. A steam collecting dome 34 is tightly sealed to coverplate' 30 inany suitable fashion and supports various components of the ironincluding water valve 24. It also carries a pressure balancing tube 36which transmits the pressure from the steam generator to the upperportion of the water tank 20 to equalize pressure throughout the system.All connections to the steam dome are made liquid tight by well-knowntechniques. Generally, uniform operating steam pressure is maintained bya steam pressure regulator 38 which determines the pressure under whichthe liquid spray nozzle operates. A regulator of this type is shown inthe aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,041,757. Steam produced in generator18, as controlled by regulator 38, is directed upwardly for subsequentdownward flow through the pressure regulator and thence through steamoutlets 32 to the ironing surface. The pressure regulator 38 maintains apressure suitable for spray operation.

For maximum use in various operations, the iron should be operable as adry iron, as a steam iron, or as a liquid sprayer. Therefore, means areprovided for controlling whether or not steam is generated within theiron. This includes elongated valve stem 26 suitably guided in awell-known manner and connected to the stepped steam button 28 in thehandle. Valve stem 26 is urged upwardly by suitable spring 40, which iscompressed when button 28 is depressed to lock the stepped portion ofthe button under the handle surface whereby stem 26 closes orifice 22and the iron is operable as a dry iron all in a well-known manner.

To spray water on fabric, there is provided a sprayer assembly includinga sprayer head generally shown at 42, arranged within the iron handleand partially extending through an opening within the handle.Preferably, the sprayer is directed downward so the fabric can bedampened without lifting the. iron. The sprayer head is sealed to steamtube means 44 extending through filler cap 46 and opening to the upperportion of the water tank. As seen in FIG. 1, steam tube 44 is alignedwith pressure balance tube 36 so that tube 44 is in relatively directcommunication with generator cavity 18. Also connected with sprayer head42 is water tube means 48 communicating at its lower end with the bottomof the tank 20, and at its upper end with sprayer 42.

As described in US. Pat. No. 3,605,299 and, referring to FIG. 2 herein,a cap assembly 50 is disposed over the tubes and designed to move up anddown and open and close a spray discharge outlet 52 in the steam tube aswill be more fully described hereinafter. The cap assembly is actuatedvby a linkage-control means shown diagramatically in FIGS. 3 and 4 andmore fully described in said co-pending application. Briefly, thecontrol means includes a rotatable button 54 with angled or cammedbottom surface 56 to abut angle member 58 whose arm 60 is one end of alever struc-' ture comprising lever 62 that rotates in a generallybellcrank fashion about pivot 64 on fixed support 66 within the handle.The other arm 68 is bifurcated to straddle cars 70 (shown rotated inFIG. 2 for clarity) and raise and lower the cap through a tube sleeve 72that bears on the bottom of the gasket member 74. The gasket, in turn,secures and carries the cap 50 with it upon movement. The specific leverstructure and tolerance compensating means is fully described in thereference co-pending application and the details thereof form no part ofthe present invention but is a typical control means connected to movethe cap as might be applied to this invention.

In said US. Pat. No. 3,605,299 structure is disclosed whereby the liquidflow rate, i.e., the rate of flow of water through the sprayer may bevaried to provide different spray rates. The present invention isdirected to a structural arrangement whereby the steam flow instead isvaried to result in different structural executions that may offercertain advantages in simplifying the number of parts required, and moreprecise spray settings.

In a spray iron, the spray flow rate is generally defined as the poundsof water per minute that are passed through the sprayer. Thus, a dryspray in a power spray system comprises mostly steam with a smallquantity of water and is used on synthetics. A heavy or wet spray forcottons and linens requires more water and less steam. In order toachieve these varying sprays, the present invention directly controlsthe steam flow to vary the spray rate. To this end, as seen in FIG. 2,water tube 48 is generally disposed longitudinally within steam tube 44and water is introduced into the spray by providing the upper end of thewater tube 48 with a fixed spray mixing member 76 that acts as anextension of the water tube. Mixing member 76 has a suitable diametricalor transverse passage 78 opening into spray outlet 52 as shown toprovide water for the spray. The transverse passage 78 permits steamflow from the interior of steam tube 44 to pass across the passagewhereby water in water tube 48 is pulled into the passage and mixed withthe steam to exit from outlet 52 in a well-known manner. Water tube 48acting through the mixer has an opening'80 discharging into adjacentoutlet 52 and through which the water exits as picked up by steam comingthrough passage 78.

In order to control the quantity of steam flow, pin means 82 islongitudinally disposed so that the water tube, mixer and pin arerespectively disposed in the steam tube and the pin is designed formovement in the mixer relative to transverse passage 78. Progressivelyvarying quantities of steam flow are obtained by making the pin ofdecreasing cross-sectional shape or of decreasing diameter in the mostconvenient execution. Any number of suitable cross sections may beemployed-three being shown in FIG. 2. Movement of the pin may becontrolled by biasing it towards the smallest cross section oppositepassage 78 by spring 84 pressing under flat head 86 which in turn pusheson gasket 74 and against cap 50. The flat head spreads the pin loadpreventing rupturing the gasket. Thus, movement of the control meanspermits pin 82, under the urging of spring 84, to move upwardlongitudinally within the tube and, depending on the position of thepin, brings a different cross section into transverse passage 78. Twosuch positions are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which illustrate heavy or wetand light or dry spray settings respectively and use a modifiedtwo-dimensional pin instead of the three-dimensional one shown in FIG.2.

Referring again to FIG. 2 for purpose of explanation, it will be seenthat, as the different smaller cross sections D D are brought into thetransverse passage 78 then larger steam flow areas are progressivelypresented for increased steam flow from the interior of steam tube 44.In other words, as the, diameter decreases, more steam flows throughtransverse passage 78. This results in more steam in the watersteam mixand thus a dry or light spray as shown in FIG. 4. The spray flow ratetherefore varies directly with the pin cross section, increasing as thecross section increases, i.e., less steam in the mix. The spray ratealso varies inversely with the steam flow, i.e., as the steam flow goesdown with larger pin cross sections at the passage the flow rate goes upas in FIG. 3, i.e., more water is introduced to the spray. As noted, anynumber of steps may be used although two will generally be sufficient asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly, a tapered pin as shown in FIG. 5could provide an infinite choice of spray by controlling the steam flow.

In spray irons that are designed to use tap water where impurities maybe present in the water, it may be advisable to collect the impuritiesat a given control point and then clean them out rather than have themcollect throughout the fine passages. In the present invention it isconvenient to provide for this by making the opening in the water tube48 in the form of an orifice 88 where the impurities are prone tocollect and then make the smaller diameter of pin 82 act as a cleanoutmeans for the orifice on each actuation as well as a control diameter inthe light or dry spray condition as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, the present invention is designed to vary the flow rate by varyingthe steam flow across passage 78 and therefore change the mix of steamand water that exits from outlet 52. It can be seen that the spray flowrate then varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely withthe steam flow in a different and simplified structuralmeans as selectedby the user.

While there have been described preferred forms of the invention,obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of theappended claims the invention may be practised, otherwise than asspecifically described, and the claims are intended to cover suchequivalent variations.

' Iclaim:

1. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed waterreservoir, a steam generator, and

a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water and steam mix through asingle'outlet to the ironing surface, the improvement in the sprayerassembly comprising,

a steain tube having a spray discharge outlet,

a water tube with an opening adjacent said outlet,

a tubularspray mixer member disposed in said water tube and having atransverse steam passage therethrough connecting said steam tubeinterior and outlet, variable cross section pin means disposed in saidmixer across said passage and movable relative thereto, and

control means connected to open and close said outlet and move said pinto present different cross sections opposite said passage and variablycontrol the steam flow through said passage,

whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross sectionand inversely with the steam flow.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 whereinsaid water tube, mixer, andpin are respectively disposed longitudinally within said steamtube, saidpin being of progressively decreasing cross section,

spring means biasing said pin toward the smallest cross section oppositesaid passage, and

means to limit movement of said pin.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is an orificedisposed in said mixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act asa clean-out means therefore on each actuation of said sprayer, I

4. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed waterreservoir, a steam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to directa water and steam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface,the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising,

a steam tube having a spray discharge outlet,

a water tube disposed in the steam tube with an opening adjacent saidoutlet,

a tubular spray mixer member disposed in said water tube and steam tubeand having a transverse passage therethrough connecting said steam tubeinterior and outlet,

a stepped cross section pin means disposed in said mixer across saidpassage and slidable longitudinally of said mixer,

a cap slidably disposed over said tubes, and

control means connected to move said cap to open and close said outletand move said pin to present different cross sections to said passageand variably control the steam flow through said passage,

whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross sectionand inversely with the steam flow.

7 8 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said movement of saidpin. Water tube, mixer, and P are respectively disposcd 6. Apparatus asdescribed in claim 4 wherein said longitudinally within said steam tube,said pin being of opening is an orifice disposed in said mixer and saidpin progressively decreasing cross section,

extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out means sprlng meansbiasing said pin toward the smallest aids ra er. cross section oppositesaid passage, and therefore on each actuauon ofs p y said pin having aflat head abutting said cap to limit

1. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed waterreservoir, a steam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to directa water and steam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface,the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising, a steam tube havinga spray discharge outlet, a water tube with an opening adjacent saidoutlet, a tubular spray mixer member disposed in said water tube andhaving a transverse steam passage therethrough connecting said steamtube interior and outlet, variable cross section pin means disposed insaid mixer across said passage and movable relative thereto, and controlmeans connected to open and close said outlet and move said pin topresent different cross sections opposite said passage and variablycontrol the steam flow through said passage, whereby the spray flow ratevaries directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steamflow.
 2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said water tube,mixer, and pin are respectively disposed longitudinally within saidsteam tube, said pin being of progressively decreasing cross section,spring means biasing said pin toward the smallest cross section oppositesaid passage, and means to limit movement of said pin.
 3. Apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein said opening is an orifice disposed in saidmixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out meanstherefore on each actuation of said sprayer.
 4. In a steam andadjustable rate power spray iron having a closed water reservoir, asteam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water andsteam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface, theimprovement in the sprayer assembly comprising, a steam tube having aspray discharge outlet, a water tube disposed in the steam tube with anOpening adjacent said outlet, a tubular spray mixer member disposed insaid water tube and steam tube and having a transverse passagetherethrough connecting said steam tube interior and outlet, a steppedcross section pin means disposed in said mixer across said passage andslidable longitudinally of said mixer, a cap slidably disposed over saidtubes, and control means connected to move said cap to open and closesaid outlet and move said pin to present different cross sections tosaid passage and variably control the steam flow through said passage,whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross sectionand inversely with the steam flow.
 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4wherein said water tube, mixer, and pin are respectively disposedlongitudinally within said steam tube, said pin being of progressivelydecreasing cross section, spring means biasing said pin toward thesmallest cross section opposite said passage, and said pin having a flathead abutting said cap to limit movement of said pin.
 6. Apparatus asdescribed in claim 4 wherein said opening is an orifice disposed in saidmixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out meanstherefore on each actuation of said sprayer.